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GOP rivals debate how to take on Donald Trump

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GOP rivals debate how to take on Donald Trump 02:17

(CNN)As GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has made news all summer for attacking members of his own party, the real estate mogul promised that would be "very civil" at the first Republican presidential debate of the cycle Thursday.

Although Trump says he will be everyone's No. 1 target on Thursday night, he said, "If I'm attacked I have to do something back, but I'd like it to be very civil."

After a series of recent, public feuds between Trump and other Republican presidential candidates, including South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Trump got in another dig at his opponents, saying he was "honored" to see both Graham and Perry both "down [in the polls] very substantially."

Both candidates were unable to snag a spot in the primetime Fox News debate, and will instead participate in a debate of seven candidates airing at 5 p.m. Thursday.